Amazing People Who Risked Their Own Lives To Save Animals

It’s amazing and heartwarming to know that there are people who are willing to risk their own lives to save helpless animals. From a man who rescued a 400-pound bear stuck in the ocean to a Good Samaritan who drove into a canal to save a dog, these people are amazing specimens of the human race. See the amazing rescues here.

Rescuing A Sheep With No Concern For Their Own Lives

These young men in Norway witnessed a sheep drowning in some heavy water and quickly jumped into action. When their first attempts to reach the animal failed, one of the young men grabbed his buddy’s hand and jumped into the water.

Their bravery paid off, as they managed to grab a hold of the sheep and pull it to safety. We have no doubt that the sheep was grateful for their heroic deeds.

Young Man Runs Into Traffic To Save His Dog

This child witnessed a dog running into a high traffic area. Instead of waiting for an adult the little boy ran to his scared dog, who was hit by a car and had become paralyzed with fear.

The brave boy proceeded to use all of his strength to pick the dog up and then played a game of real-life Frogger as he dodged speeding vehicles to bring them both to safety. Kudos to this young man for his actions!

This Guy Saved A Deer From A Flood

This stunning photo shows a baby deer that was facing certain death before a heroic man jumped into raging flood waters to save the wild animal. Don’t worry, despite the appearance of this photo, the man survived, but had to hold his breath for a while as they swam to dry land.

This was a truly selfless act. Deer can be a nuisance but baby animals deserve a chance to grow into adulthood.

Little Boy Saves A Puppy From A Flood

It’s obvious from this photo that saving this dog was a struggle for this small child. Despite wading through muddy flood waters he managed to save this wet and scared dog from a watery grave.

This is a great example for kids everywhere. You don’t have to be a heroic adult to help animals, you just need to have a big heart and the adrenaline to get through some pretty scary situations.

Saving A Pig From A Roof

These men from the Village Of Vojskova (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) were cruising around on a rescue boat following a flood when they ran into a pig — on a roof! The men quickly positioned their boat and climbed onto the room of a human to save the animal.

After a bit of a struggle, they were able to corral the animal and deliver it to safety. Aside from the bravery shown here, this is probably one of the strangest animal rescues we have witnessed.

Man Dives Into Ocean And Saves 400-Pound Bear

The animal control team in Alligator Point, Florida, attempted to sedate a black bear that was roaming through a residential area. The hungry bear had traveled from Osceola National Forest in search of food.

The bear, under the effects of the drugs, roamed into the bay and started to drown. This brave man refused to let the 400-pound bear drown and jumped into the water, grabbed a hold of the animal, and swam it to safety.

A Fisherman And A Dog

Stories like this just melt out hearts. Here is a dog in the process of being rescued from a deadly situation. A fisherman was out on open waters when he witnessed an incredible sight. The poor dog was stranded on a piece of ice that had broken away.

The fisherman quickly changed into his survival gear when he saw the dog. He bravely jumped into the freezing water to save his new four-legged friend. Both man and dog were eventually aboard the fisherman’s boat and they lived to tell their stories.

Animals Know When They Have Been Rescued From Death

Don’t let animals fool you, they are amazing creatures and realize when they have been saved. This cat was pulled from a burning building and immediately clung to the firefighter who saved its life. You can see the look of relief behind the fear in the cat’s face.

Remember to treat animals with respect because they have a lot of love to give if you love them back. Also remember that International Firefighters’ Day is May 4 each year. Take a moment to thank a firefighter for his or her service.

This Firefighter Nearly Died Saving This Adorable Poodle

When a four-alarm fire broke out in several buildings in Jersey City, New Jersey, firefighter Ray Spellmeyer rushed to help. He raced into one of the buildings and pulled out a Poodle named Joseph.

A quick look at the complete carnage of the scene highlights the bravery of the firefighters who rushed into the blaze. Joseph doesn’t look like he’s feeling great in this photo but he has gone on to live a healthy and happy life, thanks fully to his brave human rescuers.

A Human Chain, A Dam, And A Dog

This dog fell into the waterway at a dam in Kazakhstan and was close to death as he got weaker. A group of Good Samaritans spotted the dog and formed a human chain. One of the brave people fought against a current to grab the dog and deliver it to safety.

The rescue took about four minutes, which is really a long time in such a dangerous and physically stressful situation. This rescue goes to show that humans really can be amazing creatures in their own right.

Man Saves Dolphin From A Beach Stranding

A baby dolphin washed up on shore and this guy rushed to the dolphin’s side. The creature was small enough that the man was able to pick it up and return the baby to the ocean. It doesn’t take a lot to be a Good Samaritan for animals, you just have to act quickly and then move on. Hopefully, more people follow in this man’s footsteps after seeing this story.

Men Help Dog In Filthy Water

This dog was doing it’s best doggie paddle but it wouldn’t have been enough to help him survive. These mean teamed up and helped the little guy out of the water once they realized it was a dog in all that filth. One of them could have easily fallen in themselves but they didn’t care. The dog was the main focus.

Saved From The Building

It looks the man holding the dog is the one who really risked his life but no points are taken off from the partner there. It appears to be a collapsed building of some sort that the dog was in and they happen to find him so that is great. His opening up his arms for a big thank you hug!

Through High Waters

He put the dog on his back and did it for the city. If you have ever tried to put a dog on your back before, you know it isn’t that easy. Imagine doing it through waist-high waters! This man is a legend and now his dog loves him that much more.

The Deer Is What Matters

These waters are not high as some of the other floods but you never know what creatures are swimming beneath the waters. For the fact alone, this man risks something by saving this huge deer. He must be in the gym too because it looks heavy and it is almost his size!

Huge Dogs Gets Saved

This one is a bit similar to the previous slide, however, this time they were smart and brought along a mini-boat with them. There could be some crazy creatures in that water so you can never be too safe. And good job on carrying such a huge dog.

Deep Waters Calls For The Experts

Another day, another dog saved. This time at what looks like a dock. The dog must have fallen in and realized she didn’t know how to swim. The situation must have been handled quickly because the chances of that dog drowning are high in that deep of water.

Manhole, No Problem

Unless you are a mutant ninja turtle then going inside manholes probably isn’t your thing. This poor small kitten fell in and the owner called 911 as soon as possible. Going into that manhole could have been problematic for that firefighter but he braved it and came out with a smile.

Through The Wire

Judging by the mask the adorable cat is wearing, it was deprived of oxygen which means he most likely was in a fire. The way the cat looks up at the firefighter you can tell he forever grateful to this man. The cat was probably panicking like no other until being rescued.

Risk Of Being Frozen

This Russian firefighter risked frostbite to save this elegant cat. Those icicles hanging from the roof indicate that it is pretty cold in whatever city they are in and the face on that cat is priceless. Someone needs to warm him up immediately. He probably needs a warm coffee himself.

Don’t Forget The Owl!

You wouldn’t expect a flying bird to have to be rescued because they can just use their wings and get away. This little owl probably injured itself while in a tall tree and couldn’t get down. Here comes the fireman to the rescue! Getting lifted to high altitudes for animals is a brave thing no matter how you look at it.

The Kangaroo Gets Rescued

More floods, more brave citizens. If only kangaroos could read because it clearly says right that “floodway” but hey you can’t win them all, little joey! Luckily this brave man had the courage to go out and scoop up this little guy. We need more people like him.

MMA fighter Saves The Day

His name is Cathal Pendred and he is an MMA fighter. He saw this beached dolphin and turned on hero mode to rescue the poor guy. One of the less life-threatening situations but you never know what type of animal could have come up to shore to try and eat that little guy.

Kittens In A Basket

This flood looks brutal, especially for these poor kittens! Even though it looks like he forgot about one (or maybe that one can handle his own in the water) he has a whole litter on his head as he traverses through the muddy waters. With a walking staff in hand, he is now a hero.

Piggyback For The Win

Here we have a young hero. Whether or not that dog is his doesn’t matter but it would make him more entitled to save the dog if it was his. Regardless, he is a young brave gentleman traveling through those dangerous waters to save the life of this innocent animal.

Porpoise In The Rice Field

After a flood, this porpoise ended up a rice field. Luckily, it had this brave citizen to come to its rescue. Being trapped in a rice field for a sea creature certainly isn’t a good thing to happen even if it is covered in water, it needs to get back to its own habitat.

Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

This is some smart teamwork we see here. It looks like the boy highest up is holding a lunchbox for the other boy to slide down and get the little dog. Being smart in a situation like this is a must. Wasting time could result in the life of a poor animal and that would be no good.

War Save

“Okay so get this, we were battling during WWII and out of nowhere, we see an injured baby goat,” how these war vets start off this story to their grandkids. Yes, that is right, they were fighting in one of the biggest wars ever and had the courage to bring this baby goat back to health.

Brush Fire Koala

You can see the ash on his face and jacket, this firefighter just got finished putting out a fire and went to rescue this cute koala! He even gave him some water because he knew that dehydration was a factor after a fire. We thank those who risk their lives for not only us but for animals as well.

Freed After 50 Years In Captivity

Some of the most harrowing acts of human heroics on behalf of animals involve rescue groups who go out of their way to free animals from captivity. Wildlife SOS arranged for the amazing rescue of this elephant after 50 years of living in horrible conditions. These rescues often involve a large group of people ensuring that everyone is safe during the rescue mission.

Fire, Electrical Wires, And Saving Animals

When firefighters arrived at this shed fire they found a man rescuing various animals from the blaze. Not only was the man running in and out of the fire, he was also dodging a downed electrical wire. It takes a special kind of person to risk their life various times and in various ways to save their four-legged friends from a brutal death.

Fukushima Animal Rescues

After Japan experienced its worst nuclear power plant failure in the country’s history, one man stuck behind to rescue various animals. “They told me that I wouldn’t get sick for 30 or 40 years. I’ll most likely be dead by then anyway, but I couldn’t care less,” he explained when questioned about potential radiation poisoning. What an amazing person and animal lover.

This Man Goes Undercover To Save Dogs

Marc Ching doesn’t just save dogs, he risked his life in the process. He travels to China and poses as an undercover American businessman. He tells sellers he wants to buy the dogs to slaughter and use for their meat. He then spends his own money to export them. Once they are out of the country he helps the dogs get adopted, saving their lives from the butcher block. He says that some cultures believe “tortured and scared dogs taste better” and he fights to save them from a horrible life and ultimate death.

This Firefighter Saved Baby Hamsters From A Trailer Fire

Firefighters risk their lives every day and it’s not just about saving homes and people. When they run into a blazing home they attempt to save any living creatures inside the structure. In this case, a firefighter saved a litter of baby hamsters. They then gave the babies a chance at survival with a life-saving oxygen mask treatment.

Into A Freezing Lake To Save A Dog

This man didn’t just leap into a frozen lake without thinking about the consequences. He literally stripped down to his underwear and socks and ventured towards the last remnants of a frozen lake. He managed to call the dog to his location and pulled the scared and dying animal out of the water. We’re sure this was painful for our hero but he never backed down from saving the stranded and scared dog.

The Flood Means Nothing

This flood was no match for this man and the love he has for his dog. If he had been about four inches shorter then the flood would have been a problem but luckily for him, he had a slight height advantage. The dog looks scared but once they got back to land he was all better.

This Guy Hung From A Building To Save A Dog

This Good Samaritan noticed a scared dog hanging from a balcony. The only way to rescue the dog was to scale the side of the building and then climb with the scared pooch to safety. Both the man and the dog lived to tell and bark about their harrowing flirtation for death.

Rooftop Rescue

This firefighter could have easily fallen off that roof with one slip of his footing and it would not have ended well. How did the dog get up there? That doesn’t matter, all that matters is that the dog is safe and the fighter lived to tell the tale. Kudos to you, hero.

Rescued From The Hurricane Harvey Floods

Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas on August 26, 2017, and was the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. since 2005. In the four-day period the storm moved through Texas, many areas received more than 40 inches of rain and experienced catastrophic flooding. Over 30,000 people were displaced from their homes and many animals were abandoned or lost amidst the crisis. While some people left their pets behind, this woman was going to do everything she could to save her precious pup—even if it meant wading through waist-deep water with her dog on her back to get him to safety.

This Man Jumped Into Froze Lake To Save A Bird

Not all birds are capable of taking the plunge into a frozen lake and surviving. When this man in Norway realized a winged friend was in danger, he took it upon himself to save the animal. The man stripped off his shirt and jumped into freezing cold water. The bird was saved and the man was hailed as a hero for his selfless act.

Man Creates Boat to Transport Sheep

After the devastating floods in Louisianna and Mississippi in 2016, many animals were in desperate need of transportation to dry ground, especially those that were not acclimated to swimming in water. here, we can see a man that has constructed a makeshift boat that is carrying a group of sheep to safety. While most people think of their cats and dogs, this man is thinking about the livestock that matter too. I’m sure those sheep were very grateful. Whether they are his sheep or not, it looks like a lot of effort went into making sure these sheep were kept safe.

Breathe Little Buddy

It looks as though this poor goose was caught in a fire and suffered from severe smoke inhalation. Good thing that firefighters come equipt with all of the gear necessary to help any kind of living animal. Very rarely do you see a goose so incredibly calm and docile around humans, but by the looks of it, this goose couldn’t be happier to breathe again. Now that firefighter can check saving a wild goose off of his list, not something that everyone can say in their lifetime. Hopefully, this goose went on to live a fulfilling life in the wild once again.

Teamwork at its Finest

This very cold-looking dog appears to be in very good hands now. It looks like all of them wanted a piece of the action to help save this dog. By the looks of it, the dog isn’t the only one that’s relieved because you can even see the smiles on the firefighter’s faces as well. I hope this dog was either safely returned to its owner next to a warm fire, or one of these fine young men decided to take him in and make him his own. I hope that dog’s white and that’s not all snow!

Bogged Down

Here we have an amazing display of bravery and determination. This horse was caught in a bog, and it took this one man a long time and a lot of energy to try and coerce it to solid ground. As we all know, horses are not small creatures by any means and can be particularly threatening when they are afraid themselves. This man put that behind him and risked his life in more ways than one. Once by possibly falling into the bog himself, and again if the horse attempted to kick him. yet, it looks like the horse understands that he is trying to help.

“I Didn’t Like That at All”

That’s exactly what this cat was thinking as it saved by this firefighter. From his suit and the ash on his jacket, it looks as though maybe this cat was stuck in a house fire but luckily this brave man was there to save the day. Cats can already be a little jumpy, so I’m sure a house fire is their worst nightmare. However, clearly, this cat feels lucky to be alive and almost looks to be lost in deep existential thought thinking how it’s going to start being nice to the dog and stop trying to kill birds because life’s too short for that.

Mouth-to-Mouth

In Wisconsin during a house fire, after one of their dogs had been rescued, the firefighters went back into the house to find the other 7-year-old dog, Koda. The dog was found and taken outside where the firefighters performed mouth-to-nose artificial respiration on the not breathing dog. The two firefighters Jamie and Jared said they had no formal training on animal rescue and that the entire thing was improvised. The dog, as well as the rest of the family and pets all recovered.

Recovery Time

This firefighter is giving this shocked little dog some much needed tender love and care after he rescued him from a burning home in Connecticut. Not only did this man risk his life going into a burning building to save him, but is taking the time to make sure that he is ok before moving on. Normally, I doubt that dog would have drunk straight from a water bottle, but after an ordeal like that, it looks more than thankful. Very nice job, sir. You’ve definitely made a new friend today.

I’m Saved!

In 2010, a massive earthquake struck Chile. A lot of humans, as well as animals, were trapped beneath the rubble. here are two first responders braving the unstable collapsed buildings to save this dog. One of the helpers is even halfway inside of a collapsed building that could crush him at any second. This dog is also giving a whole new meaning to welcomed with open arms. It doesn’t look like it wants to be anywhere else except in the arms of its saviors. I’m sure the dog’s owners will be thrilled.

Lucky Dog

After a natural disaster in China’s Sichuan Province, we can see two rescuers carefully pulling free a dog that was trapped beath the rubble. I don’t know who’s luckier, the dog for not being crushed or the rescuers that managed to find it amidst all of the destruction. Either way, I’m sure both parties were relieved to see the other. That dog should count itself lucky, and we hope that it managed to find its family once again. We’re sure the rescuers got their fair share of than you kisses from this brave pup.

Teenager Saved Dog And Adopted Them

Saving a drowning dog is one thing but choosing to adopt them when you are only a teenager is an entirely different kind of choice. This young man obviously has a passion for animals even at a young age. We know he’ll take great care of this dog and it’s just a lucky chance that they found each other.

Man Faces The Fire For A Rabbit

When the Thomas Fire ravaged throughout Los Angeles in late 2017, this guy put his life on the line to save a rabbit that was skirting too close to the edge of the fire. The viral footage sparked inspiration at a time when multiple natural disasters around the country were wearing our hopes thin.

The Rescue Attempt With A Tragic End

While many people succeed risking their lives to save animals, some hopefuls are not so lucky. A Massachusetts couple drowned after they jumped into a lake to save their terrier who jumped in the water. Although other people in the lake were able to rescue their bodies, attempts to revive the couple were unsuccessful.

Wouldn’t You Do The Same?

The Louisiana floods of 2016 caused panic as animal shelters were quickly filling up and volunteers did everything they could to let the animals escape. When you know a helpless animal is about to lose its life, wouldn’t you at least try to do something to help it? Not doing so would probably cause an immense amount of guilt.

Threat Of An Eruption Prompts A Rescue Mission

In late 2017, Bali’s Mount Agung was sending hundreds of tremors through the tourist island with experts warning that an eruption was imminent. Many residents evacuated to shelters or relatives, leaving pets and farm animals behind. But a brave team of rescuers risked going into the red zones to retrieve these animals. The mission was scary for them, since the volcano could have erupted at any minute.

You’d Do Anything For A Faithful Companion

When Hurrican Harvey ravaged through Houston, locals couldn’t leave their faithful pets stranded. People shares this photo of Texas resident Joe Garcia, more than waist deep in the flood to help his dog Heidi into a rescue boat. The look in Heidi’s eyes shows gratitude for being saved in a fearful situation.

By Any Means Necessary

Here, a Houston local is saving his pets by any means necessary. For him, this means floating them to safety on an air mattress, while he himself trudges through the rising water in the streets. People have special connections with their pets, so the risk of losing them means losing so much more.

He Could Have Given Up

This dog was trapped in an icy river and was on the brink of giving up when these citizens called emergency services to rescue him. Even though the rescuer is wearing protection against the ice, he had to shimmy across it for fear of breaking the ice and falling in himself. He was able to save the dog, named Charlie, who was adopted to a forever home.

They Did What They Could To Save This Pregnant Cow

When these local farmers saw this defenseless pregnant cow in the deadly grip of an anaconda, they banded together to save not one, but two lives. This was obviously dangerous considering the size of the anaconda, which could have very well attacked them as well.

Face To Face With A Wild Animal

This wolf looks like it’s trying to attack this man, but that’s exactly the risk he took when trying to save its life. Two hunters found a distressed wolf stuck in a trap. So they tried to set it free, even though this wild animal’s instinct might be to attack once freed. The man actually used the board as a wall between him and the wolf so that he could safely get close enough to the trapped paw to undo the trap. Once set free, the wolf ran away.

He Did It Because The Zoo Wouldn’t

In 1990, Rick Swope was enjoying the ape enclosure at the Detroit Zoo, when suddenly a fight between two chimps sent one of them into a deep moat that was meant to keep them in. Chimps can’t swim, so everyone merely watched while the chimp continued to drown. Warned to stay back by zoo staff, Swope sprung into action and jumped into the moat, risking his life to save the chimp.